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College Victimization
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Institution
College Victimization
Introduction
Routine theory proves that college victimization can actually be affected and even prevented by lifestyle and routine activities. Many of the parents feel that their children are safe while at school, even though they may not like their school. There is a presumption that schools offer a safe and a better learning environment for all the students. This is not always the case. Many cases of victimizations are mentioned on a daily basis, especially among the college students. The main cause of the victimization issues is largely associated with the lifestyle and routine activities by the students. For instance, it is a fact that the students who like going out for drinks are more vulnerable to larceny than the rest of them. When one makes night outs a lifestyle, then he or she risks being victimized on various occasions. There are various ways that the victimization can be affected and even prevented.
The role of demographic aspects is significant in the cause of college victimization. For instance, the rate of victimization is seen to be higher for the minority racial groups than among the majority groups. There are many social events organized around the college. When such students from the minority groups attend the same, they are exposed to possible victimization. This is because they are considered vulnerable and weaker compared to the rest of the students. Normally, there are no rules restraining the interaction of the students. The majority students that are used to victimization take advantage of the small number of the minority students. Most of the minority students consider cooperating with the victimizers for the fear of the worst. Therefore, it could be possible to reduce the level of victimization by not giving the predators an opportunity (Cohen & Felson1979). This means that the minority groups could avoid attending such unnecessary gatherings that possibly increase the victimization chances. In addition, the minority groups could gather in larger groups while attending such events. Victimization comes from a small number of people but could destroy a whole good deal. By converging in larger groups, they could offer security to each other and scare way the potential victimizers.
Sex and lifestyle also play a major part in enhancing possible victimization on a student. Female students are considered to be weaker and more vulnerable to victimization such as larceny. Female are less likely to defend themselves when such issues occur. Consider a woman who has the lifestyle of going to a bar all by herself. Consider that she prefers going for the drinks night out all by herself and get back to the hostel on her own. This increases the chances of being robbed along the way. This kind of a lifestyle presents to the victimizers an easy target. In some cases, the victimizers may not even be ready or planning to victimize anybody. However, a drunken woman presents a soft spot where they could easily steal from her without any form of violence (Fisher et al, 1998). When such routine changes, then the victimizers will have no opportunity to steal from such a person. The change of routine could, therefore, reduce or increase the possibility of college victimization.
Most of the victimizers in college form groups to do their job. It is unlikely to find one person victimizing others. Most of the groups are formed where there are college social events such as fresher’s nights. On such events, many of the freshmen and women in college fall victims to the continuing students. Most of the events are held at night, increasing the chances of such cases going unnoticed. This is the routine in many colleges. The trend of victimization could be changed if the system effects some changes as well. For instance, if the number of night social events is reduced, there could be a reduction of venues for the perpetration of the criminal activity (Mustaine & Tewksbury1998). In addition, there could be a change to have most of the events held during the day rather than at night. This way, the victimizers will be more exposed and have limited ability to take on their fellow students.
Individuals from low-income families prefer simple ways of life while at college. This way, they tend to be more vulnerable to the victimizers. For instance, most of the students are unemployed and therefore prefer walking from one point to the other. This exposes them to the victimizers as they may walk any time of the night without considering the risk accorded to them. In addition, most of the victimizers compose of low-income families students. A change of the routine could change this trend. The low-income people tend to be lone people and therefore socialize with limitation for the fear of overspending in such peer groups. If one considers it important to walk in groups, the possibility of an attack could be reduced.
Conclusion
Demographic factors entail the various reasons why victimization exists in college. In the same way, a change in the respective factors presents a solution to the problem. Gender, race, turnover, and proximity to guardianship form some of the factors affecting the rate of victimization. A change in lifestyle could ridiculously reduce the levels of victimization. Female students could be safer in their rooms rather than walking to and from pubs on their own. In addition, adopting closer proximity to the guardian could also serve and a good measure to prevent such crimes. Reducing the rate of attendance to the social events at college plays a major role in reducing the victimization cases. Victimization is reduced by lowering the chances of becoming a victim and lowering the chances of creating an opportunity for the victimizers.
References
Cohen, L. E., & Felson, M. (1979). On estimating the social costs of national economic policy: A critical examination of the Brenner study. Social indicators research, 6(2), 251-259.
Fisher, B. S., Sloan, J. J., Cullen, F. T., & Lu, C. (1998). Crime in the ivory tower: The level and sources of student victimization. Criminology, 36(3), 671-710.
Mustaine, E. E., & Tewksbury, R. (1998). Predicting risks of larceny theft victimization: A routine activity analysis using refined lifestyle measures. Criminology, 36(4), 829-858.
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